“Old Portents & Hand-Out Hijinx” by Ben Crouse

Ben Crouse’s Old Portents & Hand-Out Hijinx is an atypical collection of vignettes that stack up into a funny film. The short’s fragmented construction feels like the contemporary equivalent of its viewing platform, the Internet, which is a similarly fragmented, non-linear experience that contains a surprise around every corner. Crouse doesn’t show much inclination toward cinematic or animation technique, but the film’s strengths lie in its memorable ideas and solid comedic voice.